D-Day

D-Day Invasion, Normandy, France, 6 June 1944.

The D-Day invasion of 6 June 1944 began the Allies' final push to reclaim occupied Europe. Again, as in Ortona and elsewhere in Europe, victory exacted a heavy toll: nearly 1,000 Canadians were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner during the daylong raid.

The Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944 is the best-known battle of the Second World War. D-Day was a key turning point in the war. The establishment of a land presence in France meant that the Allied armies were in a position to push towards Germany itself. The successful but horrific beach invasion, popularized in movies such as Saving Private Ryan and The Longest Day, built upon the lessons learned at Dieppe and in Italy. Once again, the loss of life was tragic, but, as in Italy, the invasion of France was successful.